# Busch Gardens vs Coastermate

The clearest difference is rating: Busch Gardens at 4.9 against Coastermate's 4.2. Busch Gardens also leads on ads (none vs shown) and ratings volume (61K vs 5). Coastermate's advantage is monetization model (ad-supported vs free with in-app purchases). On price and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Busch Gardens holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Busch Gardens has 61K ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Busch Gardens ships an update every 5 weeks, Coastermate every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on October 28, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Busch Gardens | Coastermate |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.9 (61K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/busch-gardens/id452815667/reviews)** | [4.2 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/coastermate/id6754709068/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **61K** | 5 |
| Positive reviews | 39.9% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 5 weeks** | Every 5 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Ad-supported** |
| Best chart rank | **#193** | — |
| Size | 69 MB | 22 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.6** | 18.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/393159818) | [Chiseled Pixel](https://appshunter.io/developer/1849731790) |

## What reviewers say

### Busch Gardens

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/busch-gardens/id452815667)

**Currently charting:** #193 Top Free · Travel (US App Store)

Enhance your visit to the theme park with this essential companion app. Plan your day, find attractions, check wait times, and access your tickets and passes. Discover dining, shows, and rides, and navigate the park with interactive maps.

**Highlights:** Interactive park maps, Real-time ride wait times, Showtime schedules, In-park navigation, Digital ticket access, Annual Pass management, Purchase add-ons

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Convenient app features
- 📍 Helpful park map and navigation
- 🕰️ Ride wait times (when accurate)
- 🍽️ Dining information

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Inaccurate ride wait times
- 🔍 Lack of information on ride closures and park operations
- 🔒 Difficulty linking/managing passes and tickets
- 🔁 Constant redirects to website
- 🤔 Confusing app flow and functionality

**Reported bugs**

- Login/account issues
- Crashes and freezes
- GPS/location tracking problems

**Requested features**

- Calendar view for park hours and schedules
- Ability to link and manage passes/tickets in-app
- Real-time ride status and queue updates
- Mobile ordering and dining integration


### Coastermate

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/coastermate/id6754709068)

Log every roller coaster you ride and view your total statistics. Discover coaster details like speed and height, and share your experiences with others through ratings, reviews, and photos. Find nearby coasters to enhance your vacation time.

**Highlights:** Track roller coaster rides, View coaster statistics, Share ratings and reviews, Upload photos, Find nearby coasters, Log total ride stats

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Busch Gardens free?

Busch Gardens is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Coastermate free?

Coastermate is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Busch Gardens or Coastermate?

Busch Gardens is rated higher. Busch Gardens averages 4.9 out of 5 from 61K ratings, while Coastermate averages 4.2 from 5 ratings.

### Do Busch Gardens or Coastermate have ads?

Coastermate shows ads; Busch Gardens does not.

### Which is updated more often, Busch Gardens or Coastermate?

Busch Gardens ships an update every 5 weeks, and Coastermate every 5 months. Most recently, Busch Gardens was updated on October 28, 2026 and Coastermate on October 24, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*